Erik Brandt and the Urban Hillbilly Quartet perform in the Radio Heartland studio April 19, 2018 By day, Erik Brandt teaches high school English. But when he's not in front of the class, he's often performing music -- either as a solo act, or with his band, The Urban Hillbilly Quartet. Back with their first recording of original music in a decade, Erik Brandt and the Urban Hillbilly Quartet stopped in to our studio to play some of the new tunes.
Oak Center General Store: a landmark music venue at the crossroads April 18, 2018 'It's a truly unique venue,' says Barbara Jean of Dusty Heart, describing Oak Center General Store. 'The room itself feels like a cross between an old saloon and a barn loft -- everything from the ceiling to the creaking floor boards is wooden, with an old potbelly stove crackling and cranking out heat from the back of the room.' How much longer the venue will continue to operate is the big question.
'Talking About Heaven': John Prine proves that old trees grow stronger April 13, 2018 The venerated songwriter discusses learning to love his voice and how years of scribbled lyrics on yellow legal pads became 'The Tree of Forgiveness,' his first album of new material in over a decade.
Caroline Cotter performs in the Radio Heartland studio April 6, 2018 Caroline Cotter's new release, 'Home on the River,' hit shelves in February, and Cotter slowed down her tour long enough to stop in the Radio Heartland studio, along with singer-songwriter Michael Howard, to play a few songs from the new record.
Dead Horses new album, 'My Mother The Moon' April 2, 2018 Milwaukee-based Americana duo Dead Horses' new album, 'My Mother the Moon,' comes out Friday, April 6. Before then, enjoy our exclusive stream of the album in its entirety.
Cry Cry Cry perform in the Radio Heartland studio March 21, 2018 Twenty years ago, Lucy Kaplansky, Richard Shindell and Dar Williams put their solo careers on hold for bit to record and album and tour together as the supergroup, Cry Cry Cry. Last summer, the three friends agreed to reunite and even to do a reunion tour. That tour made a welcome stop in the Radio Heartland studio.
Dusty Heart perform in the Radio Heartland studio March 13, 2018 It was almost exactly two years ago when Molly Dean and Barbara Jean were in the Radio Heartland studio playing a few tunes as a relatively new duo, Dusty Heart. Spring ahead to now, and Dusty Heart are back in the studio with new tunes from their debut album.
Kacey Musgraves, champion of new Nashville, announces 'Golden Hour' with two songs February 23, 2018 Kacey Musgraves has spent the past five years building a new musical world in Nashville. Now she's showing the world that she is fully living in it.
Letitia VanSant performs in the Radio Heartland studio February 23, 2018 Baltimore-based Letitia VanSant courageously left a comfortable 9-to-5 job to set out on a new career as a singer-songwriter. Her debut album, 'Gut It To The Studs,' has just been released. VanSant and her musical partner David McKindley-Ward were in Minnesota on their most recent road trip and stopped in the Radio Heartland studio for a session hosted by Mike Pengra.
Video Premiere: 'Fools Were Made to Be Broken' by the Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers February 14, 2018 Americana duo the Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers have a new album on the way, 'Don't Think About Tomorrow Tonight.' In the run-up to the album's release, the Sapsuckers are debuting a new video for the lead single, 'Fools Were Made to Be Broken.' The video was largely shot on location at the Hi-Lo Diner in Minneapolis.